Local News

With rumors circulating that he will soon be making the move from local to state government, County Mayor William Baird maintains he is staying put.
“I am not going anywhere,” Baird said following a meeting of the South Campbell County Rotary Club on Tuesday. “I have not inquired about a job (in Governor Bill Haslam's administration) and I have not been asked.”

Campbell County High School is taking up the baton in educating students, but the lessons being taught this weekend at the school aren’t just for students.

Everyone is invited to attend the I Hate Meth drug awareness rally on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Music, food and demonstrations will be organized in the cafeteria, auditorium and gymnasium at the high school.

Through the front entrance of the Campbell County Jail, past security, is one heavy locked door after another.

Jail Sgt. Ken Daugherty leads the way to the book -in counter where an inmate stands waiting. All inmates come in through the garage and into the book- in area before being locked up. Some go directly to the ‘drunk tank’ or a padded room to sober up or calm down before being put in with the other inmates.

Numerous tips from concerns citizens led to a couple being arrested on Monday.
The tips also led officers to seize weapons and hundreds of pills.
Campbell County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. John Long said members of the CCSD tactical team executed a search warrant at 708 South Cumberland Avenue just before 9 a.m. There had been an ongoing investigation into activity at the residence based on a number of community tips, according to Long.

An unlikely duo was caught last week after allegedly lifting copper from a recently burned home.
Roger Lyndon Waldrop, 39, of 515 East Kentucky Avenue, and James Joshua Allen, 24, of 507 East Hemlock are facing a number of charges including theft under $500 and felony evading arrest following a brief pursuit by last Thursday.
Campbell County Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Brandon Elkins said he responded to a call reporting three men were spotted stealing cooper from a home that had fallen victim to fire.

At a meeting earlier this month school board members learned they may have to tweak their regular meeting agendas going forward to comply with an obscure law that currently only applies to four states.
During the Jan. 11 meeting board attorney Dail Cantrell said Tennessee along with Indiana, Michigan and Ohio make up the 6th Judicial District which does not allow school boards to have prayer after the meeting begins.

At a meeting earlier this month school board members learned they may have to tweak their regular meeting agendas going forward to comply with an obscure law that currently only applies to four states.
During the Jan. 11 meeting board attorney Dail Cantrell said Tennessee along with Indiana, Michigan and Ohio make up the 6th Judicial District which does not allow school boards to have prayer after the meeting begins.

The suspense is building as the LaFollette City Council reviews 10 police chief applicants this week. Each councilman and mayor will choose one applicant; they could all choose the same applicant or five different ones.

A convicted felon with a LaFollette address found himself on the wrong side of the law in another state last week.
On Jan. 21 Kenneth Pierce, 42, of 904 West Walden, and Tammy R. Partin, 33, of 120 Reagan Lane, were traveling on Highway 211 North West in Winder, Ga. When a Deputy Adam Hunter with the Barrow County Sheriff's Department observed the pair traveling 61 miles per hour in a posted 45 mile per hour zone. Records indicate when he attempted to conduct a traffic stop Pierce sped away.